Padres Acquire Jon Jay for Jedd Gyorko

Jon Morosi of FOX Sports was first to report anything about a deal between the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals involving infielder Jedd Gyorko. Later, the Padres officially announced that they were sending Gyorko and cash considerations to the Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Jon Jay. Dennis Lin of the Union-Tribune hears that the Padres will send $7.5 million to the Cardinals.

Prior to the 2014 season, the Padres and Gyorko agreed upon a five-year extension worth $35 million. There is still four years and $33 million left on the contract. As for Jay, he and the Cardinals agreed on a two-year extension prior to the 2015 season. He is still owed $6.85 million for the 2016 season.

I would have expected the Padres to get more than one year of Jon Jay in return for four years of Gyorko, however, at least it seems that the Padres have found their lead-off hitter for next season. Jay is a career .287 hitter with a .354 on-base percentage, and a decently low strike-out rate (~17 SO per 100 ABs). He is also a left-handed hitter, which the Padres were looking for to help balance their right-handed heavy line-up, and he is also an an asset defensively.

Comments

San Diego born and raised. Love the Padres, the Chargers, and all things (for the most part) San Diego. Will continue to follow San Diego sports through both the ups and down, and I hope to hear your opinions as you follow them too.

D68Soldier

I prefer that Spangenberg bats lead-off. With the current roster, I can see Jay batting third and maybe even second.